Renaissance Men SA: Fashion Week: Paul Smith Spring Summer 2013

Image courtesy of www.fashionising.com

I’m not particularly one to comment on fashion weeks, well, international ones at least. However, there are some brilliant international brands for men that I aspire to own full walk-in closets of. Paul Smith happens to be one of those brands. Whether it’s the signature stripes or the effervescent florals, there’s just something about the Paul Smith man that makes me want to cut into one of the suits and sleep in it.

Recently, Paul Smith just showcased their Spring Summer 2013 collection for Men in a peculiarly quaint and Victorian-styled atrium-type building. Black designer bunk benches set in a landscape of aqua green/turquoise floors and lighted walls. The catwalk, a simple and slim raised platform, taking the form of a U-shape. A very squared-off U-shape, I might add.

With social media being such a big buzz term this year, no fashion brand was or is going to get caught blindsided. Paul Smith, who live streamed the fashion show to viewers across the globe also mad a concerted effort to release behind-the-scenes, backstage if you will, images from before the show. Something that helped create a buzz via twitter and get people excited to see the actual show.

Image courtesy of www.fashionising.com

I’m all for keeping things simple and elegant for men, when it comes to fashion. I’m also the one who keeps asking, “can you push the boundaries just a little bit more” too. And I must admit, although it wasn’t as revolutionary as I’d thought, Paul Smith definitely kicked in some surprises I was ecstatic over. For instance, the use of colour. The full orange, more like tangerine to me, suit in double-breast was an absolute winner.

And did I mention already it comes in peach too? The trench coat in mustard, although more of a autumn or winter garment, looked cool enough to wear in daybreak. Some of the other key pieces that caught my eye were the sandals. Now not to deny my love for gladiator sandals, I think I’m now more inclined to rock these old-school sandals in natural, rust and perhaps there should have been an orange and electric blue pair too.

Image courtesy of www.fashionising.com

The graphic rose prints, done in charcoal fading to black and deep red fading to black on the shirt and ties was also something to smile about. It introduced a more modern take on the fabrics and created a dynamic of adventure for men that was usually left for women. Oh, and there was a peach biker jacket. Detailed with partially fabricated sleeves and trims on the jacket hem in peach fabric that almost tinted guava. A must-have, in my books.

The collection really presented itself with a modern take, ultra-modern take on the rock star. 2013’s rock star, according to Paul Smith’s collection, is feminine through use of colour and masculine in style and cut. He dons pastel coloured frames, natural toned sandals, muted graphic roses on his shirts and is not afraid to wear a double-breasted suit in summer. He understands his on stage persona to be less preppy as his off stage character, and is not afraid to mix the two with a graphic pair of charcoal slim fit trousers and a muted pale crew neck in shorts sleeves.

Image courtesy of www.fashionising.com

Paul Smith’s 2013 rock star knows how to bring the rock when his rolling down the streets of Savile Row.

Image courtesy of www.fashionising.com

Now us locals, in SA, will have to wait a few months before these babies hit the flagship stores at the V&A Waterfront and Sandton. However, it you’re not keen on waiting and you have the means to shop online, visit Van Mildert. They are an online shopping portal, which delivers to SA, to get yours hands on the collection sooner than the rest.